News Archive

NEWS ARCHIVE

Saint Cloud Police handed out thirty bicycle helmets Wednesday between 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Police patrolled on bicycle and gave the helmets to children riding without helmets. Police also handed out coupons for Dairy Queen, Caribou Coffee, and Mr. Twisty.

Helmets were purchased through donations from the Saint Cloud Optimist Club as well as CentraCare Health Center. Coupons were donations from their respective businesses.

Waite Park Police Officers were sent to the area of 724 Popplewood Court for an assault complaint at about 11:30 PM Wednesday night. Investigation revealed that two men had been sending threatening text messages to the victim about an unpaid debt. When the victim arrived to pay the debt he was punched in the face, and knocked to the ground. The other male suspect held a shotgun. The male suspects pointed the gun at the victim's vehicle as he tried to flee with his friends. The male suspects were later identified as 20-year-old Jeson Gebrielson of Waite Park and 26-year-old Christopher Lee of Waite Park. They were arrested for 2nd degree assault and terroristic threats and are being held for court in Stearns County Jail.

The State Department of Public Safety is recognizing a Sauk Rapids police officer for being one of the top drunk driving enforcers in the state. Officer Glen Bichler made 76 DWI arrests last year. He and 30 other top DUI enforcers from around the state will be recognized in a ceremony before Wednesday night's Twins-Yankees game at the Metrodome.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is looking for candidates to participate in a task force to create a surplus agricultural donation program. The nine member task force will advise the MDA on the consumption of Minnesota grown produce and how best to facilitate the donation of harvested products to feed hungry Minnesotans.

If you usually park at the old Coborn’s site near St. Cloud State, it’s time to change your parking routine. After months of discussion and deliberation, workers are breaking ground for the highly-anticipated 5th Avenue Live project. Construction began this morning on the new St. Cloud State student housing, Welcome Center and retail space on the 300 West block of 5th Avenue, formerly the site of Coborn’s grocery store. Throughout this $100 million dollar construction project, cars parked on the property will be towed at the owner’s expense.

St. Cloud State has appointed an interim dean of the College of Education. Glen Palm, a professor and chair in the Department of Child and Family Studies, is replacing Kate Steffens, who resigned to take a dean position at Walden University, based in Minneapolis.

Palm has been with SCSU since 1983, when he was hired as an assistant professor. Palm initiated the Parent Education licensure program in 1985 and has since served as its coordinator. He has served as chair of his department three times during his tenure.

Charges are pending against a man Waite Park Police say spit and kicked several officers last Friday morning. It happened at around 12:45 AM outside the Waite Park Maintenance Building on 3rd Street South. Police responded to a call from a woman who said she was worried about her son’s medical condition. Officers arrived to a gathering of people, and a 21 year old Waite Park man ran into a nearby pond. Friends of the man told officers he was not a good swimmer. A Waite Park officer removed his gun belt and entered the water to rescue the 21 year old. When the officer reached the man he appeared to be unconscious and was brought to shore. Officers gave first aid and as the man recovered, he attempted to enter the water a second time. This time, he became aggressive with officers, kicking a Stearns County deputy as well as two St. Joseph police officers. The man was brought to the Emergency Room for evaluation. 4th degree assault charges are pending.

Folks living in Monticello, don’t be alarmed, it’s just a drill. Wednesday and Thursday, state and county agencies will participate in a simulated nuclear incident drill in and around the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The drill will test the capabilities of all responsible agencies during an emergency. The state department of public safety says while a nuclear incident is unlikely, it is important that emergency responders stay sharp.

A reward is being offered for information on a car fire that the St. Cloud Fire department feel might be arson.
They were called to 1933 West Division Street at 4:10p.m. on Sunday with the report of the car on fire behind a building. Three minutes after the call the fire department found the passenger side of the Dodge Neon engulfed in flames. The vehicle and its contents were a total loss. The driver side window was open and fireworks have not been eliminated as a cause. The reward of 25-hundred dollars is being offered for information leading to identifying the persons responsible. Anonymous tips can be called to the Arson Hotline at 1-800-422-2020.

A 15-year old suspect is being held in a detention center after he was arrested for grabbing a shopper’s billfold and cell phone in the Crossroads Center parking lot. Waite Park police were called to the west lot near Macy’s at 5:00 p.m. Sunday. A 19-year old woman reported she was walking to her vehicle when she met and passed a black juvenile male…after passing her, he turned around and grabbed her cell phone and billfold .
He then ran west through the parking lot. The woman chased him and was assisted by another person who was in the parking lot. The suspect ran across Waite Avenue north and onto 2nd Street north where he got into a car. A second witness to the incident got the license plate of the vehicle the teen entered.
St. Cloud Police stopped the vehicle later, however the suspect was no longer in it. After investigating further, the suspect was arrested July 6 and is being held until his initial court appearance.

The District of 742 Local Education and Activities Foundation raised over $18,000 for class room supplies in the fall of 2014 in St. Cloud.

LEAF executive director Bruce Hentges says they have received $18,250 in donation and supplied 73 classrooms throughout district 742. He says they have collected this amount of money through the Adopting a Classroom project.

The project connects businesses and individuals to collect supplies that teachers and families have to purchase for classrooms. Participants make a 250-dollar tax-deductable donation for the needed supplies like notebook, sheet music, science kits and other things. Donors can choose to adopt a specific classroom at a school of their choice like or allow LEAF to choose one.

Hentges says the goal of LEAF is to create an equal classroom experience for all students. LEAF has contributed more than one point six million dollars since its foundation in 1996.